Page 74 of Validus Vale Academy 1
The final drawer is locked, which piques my interest. I’m even more curious when I realize the drawer is sealed with a comprehensive locking spell. It’s not one I know. If I want inside, I’ll have to do my research.
Under the desk are empty cigarette boxes, an overflowing trash canister, and a grocery sack. I pull it open, and inside are a pair of red and white Fateball sneakers. They’re pretty sweet, actually, and I’m surprised Feniks can afford them on a faculty salary.
Maybe he has other sources of income? That would be useful information to know. I text Striker immediately and ask for background and financial information on Alexis Feniks.
STRIKER: o7
I’ve just come up with >_>, which is my version of ‘side eye’, to reply with when the door to Feniks' office slams open and…
There’s the man himself. Hmm. I guess I’m a little busted.
“What the fuck, Drakeward?”
33
Cosmo fucking Drakeward.
The little shit is poking through my desk like he has every right in the world to my secrets. My blood pressure spikes. “What the fuck, Drakeward?” I roar, but the cocky bastard doesn’t flinch or even bother to come up with any kind of tale. He knows I won’t believe whatever he says. Drakeward is no idiot. I’ve seen him watching me, assessing.
“I’m searching your desk,” he replies with a lazy drawl that makes me want to punch his smug face. “It would help me enormously if you unlocked your third drawer.”
I’m sure my rage is apparent, but he just stands there, cool as a cucumber and pleased that I’m rattled.
“And by the way, this office is a fucking disgrace,” he continues, like I’m the child and he’s the adult. “I can give you the name of a cleaning service if you like. Nice kicks by the way. How’d you afford them?”
I stare at the barely-worn sneakers in his hands, and a wave of anger washes over me. Taking a step forward, I clench my fists. “What are you doing with those?”
Cosmo shrugs. “Seems a shame to hide them away, what with them being limited edition and all.” He angles the sneakers fromside to side, a smirk playing on his lips. “Are these even your size? Look a little big if you ask me, Professor.” His eyes flicker with something I can’t quite place.
“I’ll ask again, what are you doing in here,runkku?”
“Always with the made-up curse words,” he tuts, shaking his head.
“It’s Kormovian, you imbecile. It means "tiny-penised masturbater.”
Very fucking surprisingly, Drakeward lets out a bark of laughter. “Runkku,” he repeats. “I’ll have to remember that one.”
I’m about to lunge at him when a voice behind me stops everything.
“Alexis?”
Theo. She stands in the open office doorway in one of her extraordinary weekend outfits. Today it’s patchwork…overalls? Dungarees? But shorts, not long pants. And over-the-knee orange socks. I don’t really understand how she makes it all work, but she really does. Taking my focus off her body and onto her face, I see she’s got a strange, unfocused expression. “Theo?”
She doesn’t answer, just takes one step, then another, into the room, bypassing me completely. My eyes flick to Drakeward. He’s watching her every move as she walks straight towards him. Drakeward is still holding Maximus’s shoes. Tentatively, Theo reaches out a finger, as if in a trance.
“What?” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “What are you?”
Is she? Can she be? Talking to the shoes? Drakeward’s eyes widen at me in a “what the fuck” kind of expression.
Yeah, what the fuck.
“Theo,” I say quietly. “Theo, can you hear me?”
She’s bent forward slightly, her face tilting from side to side, like a little bird. “Pretty,” she murmurs, once again stroking the air around the shoes. Fuck.
Can she sense that weird energy? That must be the case. I don’t like how captivated she is.
Drakeward must have had the same thought. Suddenly, he swings the shoes away, flinging them into the corner of the room. “THAT’S ENOUGH,” he yells.
